GORE-TEX Washing Instructions

Why you should clean your Arc'teryx GORE-TEX garment

Routine care and maintenance is critical for the optimum performance of your Arc'teryx GORE-TEX garment.

Dirt buildup and body oils from sweat can compromise the membrane and overall effectiveness of the textile’s Durable Water Repellent (DWR) treatment. DWR encourages water to roll off the surface –this is called ‘beading’. Regularly washing and re-applying DWR will restore the performance and extend the lifespan of your GORE-TEX garment.

When to wash your Arc'teryx GORE-TEX garment

It depends on how often and how hard you use your gear. As a rule of thumb:

Heavy use (e.g. running, ski-touring) – wash every 10 to 12 days of use

Light use (e.g. dog walking, urban use) – wash every 20 to 30 days of use

Use your best judgment. If your garment looks dirty or is no longer beading water, it’s time to give it a wash.

How to wash your Arc'teryx GORE-TEX garment

STEP ONE | PREPARE FOR WASHING

• Close the main and pit zippers.

• Open pocket zippers.

• Release tension on all elastic drawcords.

• Loosen and secure the cuff Velcro®.

STEP TWO | WASH

• Put your garment in the machine and add cleaning agent.

• Wash on medium heat (40°C/104°F) at regular cycle setting.

It is advised to use a second rinse cycle to remove any residual soap which will compromise DWR and garment performance.

STEP THREE | RE-APPLY DWR (IF NECESSARY)

If your garment is no longer beading water, it is time to re-apply DWR.

A spray-on DWR treatment will offer superior performance and the ability to target high-wear areas. We recommend:

• Arc’teryx Nu Care Products

• ReviveX® Durable Water Repellent

• Fibertec Blue Guard Spray-On

Remove your garment from the machine and shake off any excess water.

• Close all zippers

• Hang the garment and spray DWR on the face fabric –concentrating on high-wear area

• Turn the garment inside out for maximum uptake by the face fabric before placing in dryer.

STEP FOUR | DRY

• Place your damp garment in the dryer on medium heat for 40 to 50 minutes (or until dry to the touch) to effectively activate DWR.

Which cleaning agent to use?

When possible, use a cleaning agent made specifically for technical fabrics. Outdoor specialty retailers carry various brands. We recommend:

Arc’teryx Nu Care Products

ReviveX® Pro Cleaner™

Nu Down Detergent

NU TECHNICAL DETERGENT

Grangers® Performance Wash

Fibertec Pro Wash

You may also use a liquid free-rinsing soap or gentle detergent. Avoid detergents that contain fabric softeners, fragrance, whiteners or colorants.

We recommend running an extra rinse cycle on your washing machine to ensure any potential residue is fully removed from your garment.

How to prepare your GORE-TEX garment for washing

To prepare the garment for washing:

Close the main zippers and pit zips

Open pocket zippers

Release tension on all elastic draw cords.

Add cleaning agent to the machine and wash the garment on a medium heat setting (40°C / 104°F).

Remove the garment, shake to remove excess water and place it in the dryer. DWR is reactivated best when tumble dried at a medium heat setting (40°C / 104°F) for 40 to 50 minutes.

How to reapply the Durable Water Repellent (DWR)

DWR is a polymer coating that increases surface tension and helps water to bead and roll off. Applying DWR to your garment’s face fabric increases its hydrophobic properties and of repelling water.

If your garment is no longer beading water even after it has been washed and dried, it’s time to re-apply the DWR. A spray-on treatment offers the ability to target high-wear areas on your garment, encouraging its optimal performance.

Arc’teryx Nu Care Products

ReviveX® Durable Water Repellent

Fibertec Blue Guard Spray-On

Once washed, remove your garment from the machine and shake off excess water. Close all zippers. Hang the damp garment and spray DWR evenly on the wet face fabric of the garment, concentrating on high-wear areas.

Next, place the garment in a tumble drier on a medium heat setting (40°C / 104°F) for 40 to 50 minutes. We do not recommend using a wash-in DWR. Before drying, turn the garment inside out for maximum uptake by the face fabric.

Other Care Instructions

How to wash and care for your Down garment

Down relies on air between its clusters to retain warmth. When the face fabric of your garment becomes dirty, body oils and dirt attract water which can then transfer into the down, causing it to clump. Without the pockets of air between the down clusters, the garment loses its insulation properties.

Down is best washed only as necessary. To maintain performance, wash your garment when it shows signs of dirt or sweat, or the down is starting to lose loft or clump.

When possible, it is best to use a cleaning agent made specifically for technical down products. We recommend:

Arc’teryx Nu Care Products

ReviveX® Down Cleaner

Grangers® Down Wash

Fibertec Down Wash

Nikwax Down Wash Direct

STEP ONE | PREPARE FOR WASHING

Close the main and pit zippers. Open pocket zippers. Release tension on all elastic drawcords. Loosen and secure the cuff Velcro®.

Front load washing machines are recommended; however, if you have a washing machine with an agitator (top loader), putting your garment inside a mesh bag will help protect it.

If the face fabric of your garment no longer beads water, even after it has been washed and dried, it is time to re-apply DWR.

Remove your garment from the machine and shake off excess water. Close all zippers. Hang it and spray DWR on the face fabric, concentrating on high-wear areas.

STEP FOUR | DRY

Turn your garment inside out, lay it on a flat surface and remove excess moisture by gently pressing on it with a clean towel.

Place your garment in the dryer on low heat (permanent press cycle) with two “dryer balls” or clean tennis balls to prevent the down from clumping and to help it regain its loft. It will be necessary to periodically turn your garment inside out throughout the cycle to help it dry properly.

Down must be completely dried before storing to avoid clumping or mold. Be prepared for the process to take upwards of three hours.

How to wash and care for your gloves?

Arc'teryx gloves are constructed using a variety of materials and fabrics, and patterned uniquely to provide the perfect combination of dexterity and warmth.

Arc'teryx premium quality Lezanova leather "dries softly" maintaining suppleness as it dries. We strongly suggest that you keep gloves and mitts at a safe distance (at least one metre) from direct heat sources such as wood stoves, or baseboard heaters.

For washing, we recommend that you hand wash your gloves or mitts with a mild detergent in warm water, and then hang to dry. Do not use a washing machine, tumble dryer or any type of wash-in treatments.

Removable liners should also be hand-washed and dried separately. Both the outer shells and the glove liners should NOT be turned inside out.

How to re-apply Durable Water Repellent (DWR) to your Softshell garment

DWR is a polymer substance applied to the face-fabric of an Arc'teryx Softshell garment. When your Softshell garment is no longer shedding surface moisture as it used to—even after it's been washed and dried—it's time to reapply the DWR. We recommend:

Arc’teryx Nu Care Products

ReviveX® Durable Water Repellent

Fibertec Blue Guard Spray-On

After washing close all zippers, hang the wet garment on a hanger and spray Fibertec Blue Guard Spray-On or ReviveX® Spray-On Water Repellent evenly onto the wet face fabric of the garment. Next, place the garment in a tumble drier on a medium heat setting (40°C / 104°F) for 40 to 50 minutes. We do NOT recommend using a wash-in DWR as this process does not guarantee an even distribution of the DWR solution across the entire garment. Instead we suggest using a spray-on solution as this can easily be applied directly and evenly to the entire garment.

How to re-proof your insulated garment

We recommend:

Arc’teryx Nu Care Products

ReviveX® Durable Water Repellent

Fibertec Blue Guard Spray-On

First, wash your garment using Grangers® Performance Wash, Fibertec Pro Wash or ReviveX® Synthetic Fabric Cleaner. Then, use your chosen reproofing product spray directly on to the outer face-fabric of the garment while it is still wet. We do NOT recommend using a wash-in DWR as this process does not guarantee an even distribution of the DWR solution across the entire garment. Instead we suggest using a spray-on solution as this can easily be applied directly and evenly to the entire garment.

Tumble dry your garment inside out on a warm/medium (60°C / 140°F) temperature setting for approximately 30-40 minutes or until dry.

How to care for your fleece garment

Machine wash in lukewarm water. Turn the garment inside out and tumble dry at a low temperature. Do not bleach; avoid use of fabric softeners, do not iron or dry clean. For best results, launder garment with like-colours. For the optimal performance, throw your fleece garment in the washing machine when you wash your GORE-TEX jacket using Grangers® Performance Wash, Fibertec Pro Wash or ReviveX® Synthetic Fabric Cleaner. It removes all of the dirt, prevents odour from building up in the fabric and leaves no residue.

How to care for your wool garment

We strongly recommend dry cleaning your woolen products, however in most cases, you may hand-wash your woolen garments in cold water using a special soap such as Zero/Woolite, then lay flat to dry.

How to wash and care for your footwear

The best way to wash your footwear is simply with water. You can either rub the dirt off with your hands or else you can scrub the footwear with a soft brush. You should be able to get most of the dirt off this way. If you feel that you need to use soap, use a mild or pure soap and rinse the footwear thoroughly to remove any residue. Leave the footwear to dry (don't use a dryer or any other source of heat). If you leave the footwear outside, leave them in the shade. They should dry overnight, but it might take longer depending on the climate.

How to wash and care for your footwear liners

Footwear liners should be hand-washed only, using a pure, mild soap, or a normal detergent. Do not use bleach, or fabric softeners. Footwear liners should be hung to dry and NOT put in the tumble dryer.

How to wash your pack

The best way to wash your pack is simply with water. You can either rub the dirt off with your hands or else you can scrub the pack with a soft brush. You should be able to get most of the dirt off this way. If you feel that you need to use soap, use a mild or pure soap and rinse the pack thoroughly to remove any residue. Hang the pack to dry (don't use a dryer or any other source of heat). If you hang the pack outside, leave it in the shade. It should dry overnight, but it might take longer depending on the climate.

Stain Removal Tips

To remove gum or sap from a garment, first freeze the substance with some ice, then use a dull butter knife to scrape off as much as you can. Soak the garment in a water/white vinegar solution, and then either wash it in warm water with mild powder laundry detergent or with a cleaner specifically designed for cleaning synthetic garments, such as Grangers® Performance Wash, Fibertec Pro Wash or ReviveX® Synthetic Fabric Cleaner. For really stubborn stains, brush with a soft bristle brush, like an old toothbrush, using Grangers® Performance Wash, Fibertec Pro Wash or ReviveX® Synthetic Fabric Cleaner diluted with 3 parts water.

To remove grease from a GORE-TEX® garment, you should dampen the stain and then rub the stained area with Grangers® Performance Wash, Fibertec Pro Wash or ReviveX® Synthetic Fabric Cleaner diluted with 3 parts water (dishwashing detergent can also be used with fair results). You can then clean the jacket in warm water, again using the Grangers® Performance Wash, Fibertec Pro Wash or ReviveX® Synthetic Fabric Cleaner (see above: "How do I wash my GORE-TEX® jacket?"). If the stain persists, you can use Grangers® Performance Wash, Fibertec Pro Wash or ReviveX® Synthetic Fabric Cleaner or sponge it with a safe cleaning fluid which can be found at a grocery store. If cleaning fluid is used, the DWR will need to be reapplied.

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